Friedrich ludwig fiedler



(No Model.)

P. L. PIEDLER. MEANS FOR PRODUGING PYR'OTEGHNIG EFFECTS ON WATER.

No. 600,578. Patented Mar.'15,1898.

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m: norms PEI'ERS coi, PHOTO-H1140" WASHINGTON, ov c4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- FRIEDRICH LUDWVIG FIEDLER, OF HALBERSTADT, GERMANY.

MEANS FOR PRODUCING PYROTECHNIC EFFECTS'ON WATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,578, dated March 15, 1898.

Application filed August 5, 1895. Renewed July 16, 1897. Serial No. 644,850. (No model.)

T 0 (tZl whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH LUDWIG FIEDLER, of 10 Gleimstrasse, Halberstadt, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a certain new and Improved Process for the Production of Flames on the Surface of \Vater for Pyrotechnic Displays and for other Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide means for causing fire-flames of all kinds to appear on the surface of water of every description and to use these flames for pyrotechnic displays or for other similar purposes.

The means consists in placing in the Water an inflammable and specifically lighter liquid and to ignite such liquid by a chemical process or in any other suitable manner. The liquids more particularly suitable for this purpose are the products from the distillation of coal and wood, such as benzin and ligroin, as well as turpentine, sulfuric ether, sulfid of carbon, and the like. These products are scarcely miscible with water, but ascend unaffected, even when they have to pass through a very thick layer of water, to the surface of such water, and are then in a fit state to produce, after ignition, flaring, high, and durable flames, which can be fed or maintained by the continued introduction of liquid.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation, and Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views.

In order to show by an example the mode of carrying out the process, it may be assumed that a monogram is to appear on the Water-surface. A pipe of metal F or a hose is first provided for this purpose and is bent to assume the form of the desired initials. At uniform intervals this pipe is perforated, and it may be placed in a Wooden float or buoy U. This pipe F, which thus represents the desired monogram, is connected by another pipe R to a reservoir placed at a certain height and filled with the required liquid or with a mixture of several different liquids. By sinking the float by means of suitable Weights G G until it reaches the bottom of the water the liquid will pass, after opening the outlet-tap of the said reservoir, into the pipe on account of its weight and will escape through the openings formed therein. By

reason of its lower specific gravity the liquid will ascend vertically through the Water until it reaches the surface, when as soon as it is ignited a flame will. spring from every opening in the pipe, which is continually fed by the liquid, and there is formed a line of fire on the surface of thewater the configuration of-which is similar to that of the sunken objectthat is to say, in the present case a line of fire representing the desired initials.

.For soldering submarine pipes the device of Fig. 1 is used, in which 'is a reservoir B, containing the inflammable liquid, located in a large proa or boat A. To the reservoir is secured a movable pipe S, consisting, for instance, of a hose provided With a shut-off cock H. The nozzle 0 of this pipe is first brought to the place of junction of the two pipes to be soldered and fastened under the water. As soon as the shut-01f cock H is opened, the inflammable fluid runs from the reservoir B by means of its natural fall into the hose S and flows out of the nozzle 0 of the same into the water and ignites on the surface of the latter, whereby the resulting intense and directly-operating heat effects the soldering in the shortest possible time.

The shut-off cock H is then closed, the nozzle O of the hose S applied at the next place of operation, and the same procedure carried out.

A particular advantage of the process is that the flames are produced directly on the surface, so that the parts to be soldered need only be brought a short distance out of the water.

As to the ignition of the liquid, the same can be effected, as above stated, either by a chemical process or by mechanical means. In the first case it is only required to add phosphide of calcium or metallic potassium to the inflammable liquid. Such material develops such an amount of heat when placed in contact with water and in consequence of the chemical reaction taking place as to form flames, which extend all over the inflammable liquid. Instead of operating in the manner set forth the liquid maybe used without any addition of igniting material by merely throwing pieces of potassium, sodium, or phosphide of calcium in the water, so as to spontaneously ignite. The ignition may also be effected by turpentine or the like supplied by a pipe and spread on the surface of the water, this liq- Too uid being ignited by electricity or in a still simpler manner by means of matches and the like. The said liquids are likewise highly suitable for producing illuminated fountains. All that is required for this purpose is to supply inflammable liquid instead of Water by means of the forcing devices whereby the fountain is fed and to ignite such liquid at the mouth of the fountain. There arises then instead of the ordinary waterspray a spray of fire, which is unloosened in the air in the shape of sheaves, which drop down onto the surface of the Water and continue to burn thereon. The liquid forced out of the fountain may also be a mixture of Water and inflammable liquid, when there will simultaneously arise therefrom a water-spray and a fire-spray, which will present a Very striking appearance. The methods of using such a liquid are not exhausted by the preceding application, for this liquid is also suitable for rendering visible motions of every description which occur in the middle of the night either above or below the water and are otherwise concealed to the eyes. In the vicinity of shoals, sunken rocks, or other places which are dangerous to navigators glass or other receivers filled with liquids igniting in the water may be used in order to signal the danger to the shipping in such a manner that as soon as a vessel strikes such a receiver in the dark, at night or in a fog, it will break or open it, when there will appear on the surface of the water a warning fire-signal. The process may likewise be utilized for lighting the water in canals during the night or in foggy Weather.

What I claim is The herein-described means for producing a pyrotechnic effect upon the surface of Water comprising a raft or support, a horizontal perforated pipe bent into ornamental form, a reservoir for a combustible fluid, a pipe leading therefrom to the horizontal pipe, and means for sinking the raft or support beneath the surface of the water, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRIEDRICH LUDWIG FIEDLER,

\Vitnesses:

WM. HAUPT, CHAs. I-I. DAY. 

